Can’t get enough of the colours and shapes of exotic plant species? Want to get up close and personal with the wildlife that call the Penang Botanical Gardens their home? Known to the locals as Botanic Gardens, the gardens are also known as the Waterfall Gardens. Situated along a ravine at Jalan Kebun Bunga, this well kept place houses a myriad of exotic and indigenous plant species.
Image Credit: Holiday Gogogo
Of British origins, the place was first established in 1884 by Charles Curtis of the Gardens & Forests Departments Straits Settlements. Initially an old quarry plot, the gardens is separated into 12 sections: Lily Pond, Nursery, Quarry Recreational Park, Aroid Walkaway, Perdana Plant House, Fern Rockery, Fern House, Orchidarium, the Formal Garden, Tropical Rainforest Jungle Track, Horticulture Centre and the Cactus House.
Monkey Path
Image Credit: Punny Memories
Take a walk on the wild side at Penang Botanical Garden’s Moon Gate as it leads right up to Penang Hill. The steep incline may be arduous but the payoff is a pleasant and highly enjoyable trek that lasts up to an hour. A word of warning though; this garden isn’t known as the Monkey Gardens for no reason. Many troops of monkeys that patrol the area are known to be frisky and naughty; often biting bypassers who get too close for comfort. A hefty RM500 fine awaits those who touch or feed them! Apart from macaques, there’s also a myriad of other wildlife that call the gardens their home such as the black giant squirrels, dusky leaf monkeys and a wide range of butterflies and insects.
Insightful Facts About Penang Botanical Garden
- Approximately 8 kilometres away from Georgetown.
- The Penang Botanical Garden houses many flora such as the sengkuang tree, slipper orchids, black lily, cannonball tree and many more.
- A variety of the more unique plants are kept away from wandering eyes and are only open for public viewing from 07:00 – 19:00.
- For the safety of visitors, access to the garden waterfalls is blocked off.
- For those relying on public transport, they can take TransitLink bus 202 as it goes along a path by the Penang Botanical Gardens towards Teluk Bahang.
Opening Hours: Daily, 05:00 – 20:00
Address: Pavilion Administrative Complex, Jalan Kebun Bunga, 10350, Penang
Tel: +604 226 4401 or +604 226 4405
Getting There
Walking – Feel like walking along the road less traveled? You will be pleased to know that you can take a stroll to Penang Botanical Gardens from Pangkalan Weld. Walk across Pengkalan Weld by the pedestrian bridge, head left and go all the way until you reach the intersection with Gat Lebuh Chulia. Go right and until you eventually arrive at Penang Botanic Gardens.
Bus – Take the transit link bus No.10 from KOMTAR for a more relaxed journey.